Ranked teams rolling on hardwood

While much of the country doesn't hit the hardwood until the beginning of December, several of the nation's academy powers and states like Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas are already underway.

Five teams in MaxPreps.com's Preseason Xcellent 25 presented by the Army National Guard have already notched wins and six others are ready to tip off.

No. 4 Melrose (Memphis, Tenn.), No. 9 Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas), No. 18 Douglass (Oklahoma City, Okla.), No. 25 Fort Bend Bush (Richmond, Texas) and teams to watch (No. 26-50) Bearden (Knoxville, Tenn.), South Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.) and defending national champion Yates (Houston, Texas) will get their first tests tonight. Yates carries a 58-game winning streak into its contest with Dickinson.

Here's a look at how nationally-ranked teams have fared so far;

No. 1 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
The Warriors are 4-0 and averaging 110 points per game in wins over Princeton Day Academy (Lanham, Md.), Summit Christian Academy (East Lansing, Mich.), Body of Christ Christian (N.C.) and Southern Carolina Academy (N.C.).

No. 3 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)
Like Oak Hill Academy, the Pilots have been dominant in going 3-0, averaging 111.6 points per game in easy wins over Impact Academy (Hayward, Calif.) and Stoneridge Prep (Tarzana, Calif.), who Findlay beat twice on back-to-back nights. Junior forward Winston Shepard poured in 32 points in the second win over Stoneridge.

Teams 26-50

Butler (Huntsville, Ala.)
Trevor Lacey, No. 22 in MaxPreps.com's 2011 Top 100, started his senior year with a big performance by dropping in 50 points to go along with seven rebounds and four steals in a 77-53 win over Parker (Birmingham, Ala.) over the weekend. The Rebels look to go 2-0 tonight against Sparkman.

Christ School (Arden, N.C.)
The Greenies blasted Spartanburg Day (Spartanburg, S.C.), 82-26, in their opener, getting double-digit scoring from five players. Will Weeks led the way with 14. Christ School faces Shannon Forest Christian (Greenville, S.C.) tonight.

Westchester Country Day (High Point, N.C.)
The Wildcats can go 3-0 tonight with a win over Mt. Zion Christian Academy (Durham, N.C.). The Quincy Miller-Deuce Bello combination helped WCD blowout Forsyth Home Educators (Pfafftown, N.C.) 86-39 in the opener and get past Asheville Christian Academy (Swannanoa, N.C.) 71-64 Saturday.